Reconciliation Role for Lord Eames: CEN 6.29.06 p 6. June 29, 2007
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Church of Ireland, Politics.trackback
The former Archbishop of Armagh, Lord Eames will chair an independent task force charged by the government with examining Ulster’s sectarian ‘Troubles’. Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain said the consultative group would confront the “violent legacy” of the past 40 years and would put forward recommendations for building a united province.
“This consultative group provides a platform for people to express their own views on how to address the violent legacy of the Troubles which impacted on so many across all sections of society,” Mr. Hain said on June 22.
“The question is how Northern Ireland might approach its past in a way that heals rather than poisons, that enables everyone to focus on building a shared future, not looking constantly over shoulders to a divided past,” he added.
Lord Eames said it was “hugely important for the future to deal properly with the past”. If left unaddressed, Northern Ireland’s “collective memory” could dictate its future.
“I just hope and pray, and pray earnestly that what we are going to do will help to put that into its proper prospective,” he said.
Lord Eames’ co-chair will be Denis Bradley, the former vice chairman of the Policing Board, and five other members including Willie John McBride, former captain of the British and Irish Lions rugby football team.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern welcomed the news saying “we have an unprecedented opportunity now to lay the foundations of a peaceful, prosperous and shared society on this island for the generations to come.”
Mr. Hain said the government will not, however, tell Northern Ireland how to respond to the Troubles. “Only the people themselves can try to answer that question,” he said.
The committee is set to publish its conclusions by the summer of 2008.
Comments»
No comments yet — be the first.